Combination lock



Oct. 13, 1953 H. B. SYLER COMBINATION LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 9, 1951 5| as so; se 36 Gttorneg Oct. 13, 1953 H. B. sYLER COMBINATION LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 9, 1951 A I r FIG.5

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Imventor HARRISON B. SYLER A (Ittomegj Patented Oct. 13, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT oEFlcE COMBINATION LOCK Harrison B. Syler, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application October 9, 1951, Serial No. 250,537

(Cl. 7D- 146) 14 Claims. l

The invention relates to keyless or combination locks.

An important object of the invention is to provide a. combination lock which permits manipulations from either side of a door in order to unlock the door, and the keyless lock may be manipulated from either side of the door in order to lock it.

Another important object is to provide a keyless lock comprising but few parts and none ol them complicated.

A further important object is to provide a combination lock including but one resilient member, preferably in the form of an expansion helical spring, which is easily removed for replacement.

Yet another object is to provide such a lock which requires no opening in the door to which it is secured, other than a readily-bored hole, quite similar to that provided for a conventional lock spindle.

Since the lock of this invention is relatively inexpensive, due to its few and readily machined parts, it may be employed on screen doors, usually provided simply with latches or hook-andeye closure fasteners, yet the dialing of the new lock is such that small children will not be apt to be able to manipulate the lock in order to unlock the door.

A further object is to provide a combination lock having means to manually change the combination when desired.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description of the invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a portion of this disclosure, and in which drawing:

Fig. l is a vertical longitudinal section, substantially on the line I-I of Fig. 2, of one form (single dial) of the new combination lock with the parts in a locked position, and a fragmentary transverse vertical section of a closure, as a door, to which it is attached.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the lock substantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a special sleeve and dial or flange -of the new lock.

Fig. 4 is a view, somewhat along the lines of Fig. l with the parts of the lock in an unlocked position.

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section of another form of the new keyless lock, applicable to inwardly-opening doors.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section of a combination two-dial form of the new lock.

Fig. '7 is a perspective of the two dials of the lock of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section, substantially on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shown three forms of the invention and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A designates my singlecylinder combination lock; B, a form adapted to inwardly-opening doors, C, the two-dial form thereof, D, E, and F closures, as doors, to which the locks may be secured, and G, a closure frame, as a door frame.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the new single-cylinder combination lock A includes the lock housing I0 having suitable axially-aligned openings in opposite side walls I I and I2 for the spindle 3E), suitable openings in opposite end walls I3 and I4 for the bolt 25, and an elongated opening in the upper wall I5 for a portion of means for withdrawing or retracting the bolt 25. The opening in the wall I4 may be closed by the thimble I6 which projects outwardly of the wall I4, and has an air vent opening Il in its outward portion while its inward portion may be provided with exterior screw threads to cooperate with the interior screw threads of a collar I8 forming a part of the wall I4. The thimble I6 slidably accommodates an end portion of the bolt 25 to be subsequently described. Suitable means I9 as screws, extending through openings in conventional ilanges 20 of the housing, may be employed to secure the housing IIJ to a door D.

The bolt 25, best shown in Fig. 2, is preferably of generally cylindrical shape but with the conventional end portion 26 adapted to enter the keeper opening in the lock strike of the door frame G. It is provided with means to receive the free end of a set screw (to be described) and this means may be the wall of a depression 2l intermediate the ends of the bolt. An expansion helical spring 28, with one end bearing against the inner end of the thimble I6 and its other end bearing against a projection such as the collar 29 about the periphery of the bolt 25 tends to shove the bolt to a door locking position when the collar is secured to the bolt as will be described.

Referring mainly to Fig. 1, the spindle 30 may be cylindrical and the knobs 3| and 32 are mounted, as by set screws 33 and 34 to the outer 3 end portions of the spindle. The knob 32 which may be termed the inner knob, may be of conventional construction, but the knob 3| has an enlarged socket so that a portion of the new locking means or mechanism 35 may be accommodated therein, as will be next described.

The new combination locking mechanism or means 35 includes as best shown in Fig. 1 but also in Fig. 4, a special sleeve 36 encircling and secured to the spindle 3U, as by the set screw 33 extending through a small opening in the forward end portion of the sleeve 3E and this sleeve is disposed within the socket of the door knob 3|. The sleeve 36 has a narrow lug or projection 31 secured to it to project outwardly from its outer periphery and provided to slide into and out of a slot in the end portion of a second special sleeve 38 to be next described.

Still referring to Figs. 1 and 4, but also to Fig. 3, the locking mechanism 35, includes a second special sleeve 38. This sleeve is elongated and extends through a suitable opening in the vdoor D, adapted to snugly but rotatably laccommodate it, and its opposite end portions project from either side of the door. The outer end portion 39 projects considerably from the outer face of the door and its free end partis provided with a plurality `of yspaced-apart short radial slots 40 and one longer :slot 4|, all opening to the edge 42 of the sleeve 38. The slots are of a size to accommodate a portion "of the lug 31. rlhis end part extends into the socket of the knob 3| and is outwardly of the sleeve -36. Normally, the lug 31 is disposed outward'of but quite closely adjacent the edge 42. is a ring 43 which may be iixedly secured to the sleeve 439 as by ia set screw 44. The ring has, on its -outer surface or periphery, a plurality of spaced-'apart graduation lines 4'5 and other indicia, as the letters '46. At the other end portion of 'the -sleeve 438 is a preferably wide outwardly-'extending flange -41 having a plurality of spaced-apart indicators 48 extending radially from its periphery. These may be slots, grooves, etched lines or the like, provided with indicator symbols, as the indicia '49. Associated with the indicia upon the ring 43 is an index or pointer 5U having `a bracket portion adapted to be secured to the outer -fac'e of 'the door D as by a screw 5| vwith the longitudinal axis of the pointer 50 substantially vertical and the pointer pointing downwardly to the uppermost of the indicia. Additionally, there Yis :a preferably substantially like pointer or index 52 with its bracket portion secured, as by a screw 53, to the inner face of the door D and with lits longitudinal axis 'also substantially Vertical but the pointer points upwardly to the l'owermost of the indicators 48. Since the flange 41 is accommodated between the inner 'face of the door D and the innerside face of the wall |2 of the lock housing I0, the means I9, as screws, to secure this housing tothe door may be provided with spacers 54, whereby there is provided clearance for the flange so that it and the rest of the sleeve 38 may be rotated. So that rotation of the flange will not be impeded by a wooden surface in Contact with a face (the inner face) thereof, I may provide ra metallic perforated disc 55 preferably set into a slight recess 53 in the inner 'face of the door.

A portion of the locking mechanism 35 comprises an expansion helical spring `51 surrounding an intermediate portion of the spindle 30 substantially vas in Fig. 1 with one 'end of the spring bearing against the sleeve 36 and the other end Intermediate the ends of the sleeve 38 bearing against a collar 58 slidably retained about the spindle 30. The collar 58 may be retained against movement towards the knob 32 as by upsetting the material of the sleeve 38 to provide a shoulder 5S extending toward the axial center of the sleeve 38. The collar 58 also functions to and in preventing rocking of the spindle 30.

Mounted (as by welding or soldering) upon the spindle 30 within the housing I0, is a lug or projection 6G with its longitudinal axis substantially paralleling the longitudinal axis of the spindle 35. rlhe position of this lug 60 when the portion 25 of the bolt 25 is within the opening in the strike plate (i. e. when the door is locked) is as in Fig. 2, with the lug 60 contacting, at one of its side faces, the collar 29 and contacting, at its other face, a stop 6| which may be a pin bridging and secured to the walls I and |2 of the housing l0. As may be appreciated from Fig. 2, rotation of the spindle 30 clockwise will unlock the door. When the lock is in the locked position (as in Fig. 1) a portion of the lug 6D contacts the in- Vner lface of the wall |'2 and limits or prevents longitudinal movement of the spindle 3U in one v direction; longitudinal movement in the lother direction being prevented by engagement of lug 31 with the outer end portion 39 of the sleeve 38. Also a second portion of the lug 60 is positioned within a notch in the wall |2 in order to prevent rotation of the Aspindle 39 in either direction.

Means 55 to effect retraction or withdrawal of the bolt end Aportion 2 6 from the keeper by manipulations from inside the door D, may be eiected by grasping the outwardly projecting handle 66, which is secured to screw 61 and pushing the handle 66 to the right in Fig. 2, since the screw '-51 extends through the collar 29 and into the V'depression 21.

It is now apparent that a person at the outside -of the Adoor and knowing the certain indicia 46 upon the ring 43 which, when aligned with the pointer 50, will align 'the narrow lug 31 with the longer slot y 4| may so align said narrow lug and longer slot and press the rknob 3| away from him, and this will cause the lug 31 to enter the slot 4| and the spindle 3|) to move longitudinally to the left vas in Fig. 4, releasing the second portion of the lug -60 from the notch in wall I2 'and enable him to rotate the spindle 3D to cause the lug 60 to push the collar 29 to the right in Fig. .2 and thus withdraw the bolt 25.

Because the ring 43 is retained by the set screw 44, it is now obvious that the ring may be rotated,

Iafter loosening the `set 'screw 44, and then tightening it, in order to cause certain new indicia '4B to indicate, when properly oriented with the pointer 56, that the slot 4| is aligned with the lug 31.

A person at the inside can manipulate the new lock A by rotating the flange `41 until certain indicia 49 and an indicator 48 aligns with the pointer '52 whereupon the knob 32 is pulled, having the Vsaine effect as pushing the knob 3|, and turned to unlock the door. It is preferred that the indicators 48 be slots since this renders the ilange -41 easier to rotate by the hand or a linger.

For doors `which open inwardly, the combination lock B of Fig. '5 is applicable.

The lock housing 1D is vsubstantially like the housing |`0 except that the front side wall 1| has a lug-receiving slot 12 as well as an opening for a spindle 15 with the slot extending to the opening, and there is no opening in the upper wall 13, similar to that in 'the -upper wall I5.

Additionally, Vthe bolt structure 25 to 29 inclusive is applicatie to the lock B and similar reference characters are employed in Fig. 5.

The spindle 'I5 of the lock B as well as the outside knob i6 and inside knob are different from those of the keyless lock A, and carry a part of the locking mechanism |8 for, intermediate its ends, but adjacent the outer portion of the spindle 'i5 containing the knob '19, the spindle xedly mounts a. radially extending spur or lug 19 substantially as shown in Fig. 5. Inwardly of and spaced from the lug 19, the spindle is p-rovided with a shoulder 89 by longitudinally grooving a portion of the spindle, whereby a groove 8| is provided from the shoulder to somewhat inwardly of the end 82 of the spindle, as in Fig. 5. The flattened surface ends at a set screw 93 extending diametrically through the spindle with the screw 93 having a flattened longitudinally-extending portion providing a shoulder 82e.

The knob 'i9 has a spindle-end-accommodating socket and is removably secured to the spindle as by a set screw 95. At the door-facing end of the knob 19, the socket is enlarged in diameter and at the mouth of the enlarged socket 89 there is a lug 31, preferably of metal xedly secured to the knob in any approved way and being a part of the locking mechanism '19.

The inside knob has a socket to receive the other end portion 82 of the spindle and this socket is enlarged at its mouth portion 88 to accommodate portions of structure to be described.

A set screw 88a secures the knob TI to a sleeve I I subsequently described. It will be noted that the knob is normally spaced from the housing 19, whereby it may be pushed toward the door E.

Deposed about a part of the outer portion of the spindle 15, but not secured thereto, is a ring 89 having a iiange 99 extending outwardly from its periphery and a skirt portion 9| extending from the opposite end of the ring. The ring 89 is provided with a slot 92 to accommodate the lug 19.

Outwardly of the ring 89 and its skirt portion 9| and within the plane of the periphery of the ange 99, is an elongated special sleeve 95, considerably like the sleeve 38 and this sleeve is xedly secured to the outer periphery of the skirt portion 9|, by suitable fasteners as headed rivets 99, this sleeve mounting a ring 91 rotates on the outer periphery of the skirt portion 9|. However, the ring 9'| cannot reciprocate independently of the ring 89 and its skirt portion 9| since a xed ring |93, to be subsequently described, pre- Vents reoiprocation in one direction and the flange 99 prevents it in the opposite direction. Like the ring 43, the ring 9| contains suitable spaced apart graduation lines and other indicia, as letters substantially like the lines and letters 46 of the ring 43. The ring 91 has a peripheral groove 9B intermediate its ends adapted to contain the lug 81 and a slot 99 extending from the groove toward the ange 99, also adapted to contain the lug 81. A pointer |99 substantially like the pointer 59 is secured to the door E as by a screw 59| which, in this case, may also pass through a rose plate |92. Freely rotatable with the sleeve 95 between the ring 89 and rose plate |92 is another ring |93 quite like the ring 43 since it is secured to the skirt portion 9| (in this case as by the rivets 96) and its carries indicia like that of the ring 43, for cooperation withthe pointer |99. The ring |93 abuts the ring 91.

Like the special sleeve 39, the special sleeve 95 fro has a rather wide peripheral ange |94 at its end where it extends outwardly of the inner face of the door E, and this flange, substantially akin to the flange 47, contains a plurality of spaced apart slots like the slots 49 of the llange 47. The sleeve has the equivalent of the slot 4| in the provision of the slot 92 which is in thhe ring 89 rigid with the sleeve 95.

A portion of the combination locking mechanism i8 also comprises means ||9 permitting an operator, at the inside, to open the door E despite the set keyless lock. This is an elongated sleeve about the inner end portion of the spindle l5. This sleeve is fixed to the knob by the set screw 881L and abuts, as its knob-facing end, the set screw 83. It carries a radially projecting lug ||2 adapted to slide in and out of the slot 'I2 in the wall of the housing '(9. When positioned as in Fig. 5, the lug Ii 2 cannot move, since it is within the slot l2 and it, in turn, prevents movement of the collar 29 of the bolt structure (in the case of the collar 29 of the bolt structure for the keyless lock B, the screw4 ||3 is not connected with a handle, like the handle 69, and does not project through the upper wall 13) to cause retraction of the bolt. However, when the knob il is pushed, the lug ||2 will slide out of the slot l2 and will permit retraction of the bolt.

IThe sleeve has a longitudinally-extending radially-projecting rib H4 extending from the inner surface of the sleeve toward its longitudinal axis and this slides in the groove 8| in the spindle 15.

An expansion helical spring ||5 extends about an intermediate part of the spindle 15, bears at one end against the inner end of the sleeve and bears at its other end against a washer about the spindle and bearing, in turn, against 'the end part of the free end of skirt portion 9| of the ring 89.

In order to lock the closed door B, from the outside, the operator simply rotates (tumbles) the rings 91 and |93 when parts are in their positions as in Fig. 5. To unlock the door from the outside, the ring 91 must be rotated to bring the determined indicia upon the ring S'I uppermost which indicia aligns with the slot 99 and rotates the ring |93 so that the determined indicia thereon is aligned with the pointer |99 and this corresponds with the aligning of the slot 92 and lug 79. The knob 'i6 may now be pulled thus drawing the lug ||2 out of the slot 72 and when the knob is then turned, the bolt will be Withdrawn.

From the inside, by simply pressing on the knob TI the lug ||2 will be caused to leave the slot |2 and the bolt may be retracted.

In order to tumble the ring |93 so that an unauthorized person cannot pull open the knob 16 and turn it, in order to open the door E, an operator on the inside simply twirls the ange |94 which misaligns the slot 92 and lug T9. In either case the knob 16 cannot be pulled without knowledge of the combination.

Referring now to Figures 5, 7 and 8, the twocylinder combination lock C is, generally, exactly like the lock A except that in addition to the sleeve ||5 somewhat like the sleeve 38 of the lock A, there is an inner sleeve |29 with a flange |2i not quite so great in diameter as the flange ||6 rotatable over the face of the flange ||6 and provided with suitable indicia |22, as numerals and graduations, as slots |23. The free end of the sleeve |29 has a long slot |24 like the slot and when the two slots and |24 align,

as `in Fig. 8, the-lug or projection 31 may enter them, thus permitting turning of the knob 3|.

The inner sleeve has a shoulder |25 like Vthe shoulder ||8 with the shoulder |25 extending into the hollow of the shoulder 59 and rotatable therein.

In addition to the ring 43' with its indicia 46 and graduations 45, there is provided a slot or opening ||9 in the sleeve I5 close to the ring 43 and graduations |26 and numerals |21 Vaboutthe .outer periphery of the sleeve |20sh`owing through .the slot H9. The .slot ||9 is large enough to .readily receive the ball of a iinger or the thumb in order to rotate the sleeve |20, and its edges are preferably bevelled.

Knowing the vindicia (as numerals or letters) which will align, when properly aligned with the pointer .50, the slots ||l and |24, the operator will rotate the .sleeves and |20 to effect this or if, on the other side of the door, will manipulate the nanges H6 and |2| to effect the same result by aligning the proper indicia with the pointer 52.

The closure of door D has an opening |30 to receive the sleeve 38, while the closure E has an Opening |31 to receive the sleeve 95, and the closure Fhas an opening |32 to receive the sleeves H5 and 1.20. The frame G of Fig. 2 has a conventionalapertured lock strike |33 and recess |34 to receive the conventiona1 end portion 26 of the bolt 25. Other than that these several openings |30, |3| and |32 are somewhat larger in diameter than those of conventional openings in doors to receive .conventional spindlers, the doors associated with the locks A, B and C, require no modifications.

Various changes may be made to the forms of the invention herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination lock for a two-sided closure, including a lock bolt housing; a lock bolt slidable inwardly and outwardly of said housing; means adapted for securing said lock housing to .one side of the closure and spaced therefrom; means normally throwing said bolt into an outward position; retraction means to retractl said bolt; combination lock means selectively retaining said retraction means against movement and permitting movement of said retraction means, adapted to be operated from the other side of said closure and including a rotatable sleeve; and means for operating said combination lock means from said one side of the closure,including a dial secured to said sleeve and adapted to extend over a portion of said one side, said dial being disposed adjacent said housing and adapted to be located between said housing and said one side and extending outwardly of the plane of said housing.

2. A combination lock according to claim 1 characterized in that said dial has an outer periphery and is notched from said periphery inwardly toward the axes of rotation of said dial and sleeve.

3. A combination lock according to claim 1 characterized in that said retraction means includes a reciprocable spindle, said sleeve extends about a portion of said spindle and is xed against longitudinal reciprocation.

4. A combination lock for a two-sided closure, including a lock bolt housing; means adapted for securing said housing to one side of said closure and spaced therefrom; a lock bolt slidable inwardly and outwardly of the housing; means normally throwing said bolt into an outward position; retraction means to retract said bolt, including a rotatable and reciprocable spindle; combination lock means selectively retaining said retraction means against movement and permitting movement of said retraction means, adapted to be operated from the other side of said closure, including a rotatable sleeve surrounding a portion of said spindle; resilient means urging said spindle in one longitudinal direction; and means, cooperating with said housing, restraining said sleeve against movement longitudinally of said spindle, including a rotatable flange iixed to said sleeve and disposed closely adjacent said housing and adapted to be located between said one side of said closure and said housing.

5. A combination lock according to claim 4 characterized in that said ange is notched at its periphery and extends outwardly of the plane of said housing.

6. A combination lock according to claim 4 characterized in that said sleeve has an inwardly projecting shoulder, said resilient means is an expansion helical spring surrounding a portion of said spindle, and there is provided an abutment for one end of said spring with said abutmentbearing against said shoulder.

7. A combination lock according to claim 4 characterized in that said combination lock means also includes a-member iixed to said spindle and provided with an outwardly-extending lug, and said sleeve is provided with a slot constructed and arranged to receive said lug upon shifting of said spindle against the force of said resilient means.

8. A combination lock according to claim 4 characterized in that said combination lock means also includes a lug rigid with said spindle and disposed within said lock housing, and a member fixed to said spindle and provided with an outwardly-extending lug, and said sleeve is provided with a slot constructed and arranged to receive the last-mentioned lug upon shifting of said spindle against the force of said resilient means, and said lock bolt is provided with a projection rigid therewith and disposed in the path of travel of said lug within said lock housing when said spindle is reciprocated and rotated for retracting said bolt.

9. A combination lock according to claim 4 characterized in that said combination lock means also includes a member xed to said spindle and provided with an outwardly-extending lug, said sleeve is provided with a slot constructed and arranged to receive said lug upon shifting of said spindle against the force of said resilient means, and said retraction means includes a knob having a socket accommodating and concealing said lug and said slot and a fastener securing said knob to said spindle.

10.. A combination lock according to claim 4 characterized in that said combination lock means also includes a member xed to said spindle and Aprovided with an outwardly-extending lug, with an end of said resilient means bearing against an end of said member, said sleeve is provided with a slot constructed and arranged to receive said lug upon shifting of said spindle against the force of said resilient means, and said retraction means includes a knob having a socket accommodating and concealing said lug and said slot and a fastener securing said knob to said spindle.

11. A combination lock according to claim 4 characterized in that said combination lock means includes a ring extending about and secured to a portion of the outer periphery of said sleeve and provided with combination lock indicia, and a pointer adapted to be secured to said other side of said closure for pointing to the uppermost of said indicia.

12. A combination lock according to claim 4 characterized in that said lock bolt has a forward end portion and a rearward end portion, said lock housing has an opening in a wall thereof slidably accommodating a part of said rear end portion and is provided with a detachable thimble extending outwardly of said housing at said opening and accommodating a part of said rear end portion, and said means normally throwing said bolt into a locking position includes an ex.. pansion helical spring with one end thereof bearing against the inner end of said thimble, the diameter of said expansion helical spring being less than the diameter of said opening in said housing.

13. A combination lock according to claim 4 characterized in that said combination lock means includes a lug iixedly secured to said spindle and extending radially therefrom, a ring within and xedly secured to said sleeve and having a slot disposed, when said sleeve is rotated, in the path of travel of said lug upon reciprocation of said spindle, and a peripheral iiange at the end of said ring remote from said resilient means, a knob secured to said spindle and having a socket with a lug projecting from said knob into said socket, a ring disposed upon a portion of the outer periphery of said sleeve and secured to said sleeve, provided with a groove receiving said last lug and a slot extending from said groove toward said flange and disposed, when said sleeve is rotated, in the path of travel of said last lug when said spindle is shifted to cause said rst lug to enter said rst slot.

14. A combination lock according to claim 4 characterized in that said combination lock means includes a second sleeve rotatable within the first sleeve, and there is provided means cooperating with said housing restraining said second sleeve against movement longitudinally of said spindle, including a rotatable flange rigidly fixed to the second-mentioned sleeve, disposed outwardly of the first-mentioned iiange and closely adjacent said housing, and being of lesser diameter than the first-mentioned ange.

HARRISON B. SYLER.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 596,164 Irwin Dec. 28, 1897 884,460 Brown Apr. 14, 1908 1,422,467 Nelson July 11, 1922 1,443,600 Tonsager Jan. 30, 1923 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 946,993 France June 20, 1949 

